Highball stirrer



Nov. 5, 1963 A. H. ANSON HIGHBALL STIRRER Filed June 5, 1962 m min V. WH on U H T R A United States Patent M 3,109,634 HIGHBALL STIRRER Arthur H. Anson, 805 N. 26th St., Allentown, Pa. Filed June 5, 1962, Ser. No. 200,141 4 Claims. (Cl. 259-144) This invention relates generally to stirring devices, and more particularly, relates to manually operated drink stirrers generally known as swizzle sticks.

Drink stirrers are themselves not new, these devices commonly taking the form of an elongated stick or rod formed usually of glass or one of the many plastic compositions in widespread use today. Such stirrers are employed with mixed drinks, such as highballs, to stir the contents of the glass to intermix the same. The stirrer is usually served with the drink so that the drink may be stirred from time to time to avoid stratification of the drink itself and water which accumulates in the glass due to the melting of ice. The present invention differs from drink stirrers known and used in the past in that it also includes one or more movable signal flags shiftable between a concealed and a visible position so that the holder of a drink glass may for example convey a message to serving personnel who may be at a distance. Thus, an appropriate signal flag may be made visible if a new drink is desired without requiring that the person desiring the same need walk to the bar or try to catch the eye of serving personnel who may be circulating throughout the area.

The combination stirrer and signal flag device according to the invention may be provided with a number of different such movable signals with the different signals being of various colors or having printed thereon different messages. By way of illustration, one signal flag may be adapted to have the bearers name written or printed thereon to thereby serve as an introduction card, while other signals may have printed thereon amusing quotations or sayings. Accordingly, it is a primary object of my invention to provide a novel drink stirring device which includes as a part thereof, attached to its upper or handle end, one or more signal flags which may be selectively made visible or concealed from view as desired.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel drink stirring device as aforesaid wherein the signal flags themselves are readily attachable to and detachable from the drink stirrer so that signal flags with desired inscriptions thereon may be quickly attached to the flag holder part of the stirrer, the signal flags having no tendency to detach themselves from the holder device.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel combination drink stirrer and signalling device as aforesaid wherein the signal flags may be easily flipped into a visible position or into a concealed position by simple finger action and which are held in either the visible or concealed position by camming action set up between each of the signal flags and a portion of the flag holder.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification in conjunction with an examination of the appended drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 illustrates in perspective view the novel drink stirrer and signal flag according to the invention with one signal flag being shown in a visible position and another signal flag being shown in a concealed position within the flag holder;

3,109,634 Patented Nov. 5, 1953 FIGURE 4 is a front view showing one signal flag in its up or visible position and the other signal flag in its down or concealed position, but taken inside of the flag holder to render the concealed flag visible, as would be seen when viewed along the line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is similar to FIGURE 4 but taken at a point within the flag holder behind the down or concealed flag shown in FIGURE 4, as would be seen when viewed along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a visible signal flag and portion of the flag holder shown within the phantom circle on FIGURE 5 to illustrate the manner of attaching and detaching the signal flag with respect to the holder;

FIGURE 7 is similar to FIGURE 6 excepting that the visible signal flag is in the process of being turned downward into concealed position within the flag holder; and

FIGURE 8 is similar to FIGURE 7 excepting that it shows the formerly visible signal flag finally disposed within the flag holder in concealed position.

In the several figures, like elements are denoted by like reference characters.

Referring now to the figures, and firstly to FIGURES 1 through 5, it is observed that the stirring device generally designated as 10 includes an elongated stem portion 11 having formed at the bottom end thereof a stirring ball 12, and being surmounted at its upper end by a signalling unit generally designated as 13. The signalling unit 13 includes a pair of spaced apart parallel flat circular outer covers 14, each with a vertically depending ear 15 and an ear 16 projectingunward therefrom at the top. As best seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, the spaced apart outer covers 14 of the signalling unit 13 are secured to the stirrer stem 11 by means of the depending ears 15, and are secured to one another between the upwardly projecting ears 16 by means of an elliptical pivot cam shaft 17 bridging therebetween.

Disposed between the signalling unit covers 14 are a pair of signal flags generally designated as 18 and 19, the signal flag 18 being illustrated in upwardly swung position so as to be visible whereas the signal flag 19 is shown in a downwardly swung position between the outer covers 14 and hence in concealed position therebetween. The signal flag 18 is observed to include a circular disc body 20 from the edge of which radially extends a lug 21. The lug 21 is slotted radially inward from its outer end as at 23 to form a pair of laterally spaced arms 22, the inner end of the slot 23 being generally circularly enlarged to provide a cam shaft socket 24 as best seen in the showings of FIGURES 6 through 8. The signal flag 19 is formed in exactly the same manner as the signal flag 18, the only difference between these two flags being with respect to the legends on the disc bodies.

As best seen in FIGURE 6, the elliptical pivot cam shaft 17 is oriented with its major axis disposed lengthwise of the stirrer and substantially parallel with the stem 11 thereof, the length of this major axis being longer than the diameter of the cam shaft socket 24 formed between the arms 22 of the signal flag lug 21. It will thus be appreciated that the signal flag 18 stays in the position shown in FIGURE 6 when it has been once so positioned, since rotation of the flag 18 about the cam shaft 17 to a position as shown in FIGURE 7 by the arrow 26 causes the long major axis of the elliptical cam. shaft 17 to move into the position of a diameter of the cam shaft socket 24 of the lug 21. Since the normal diameter of the cam shaft socket 24 is less than the length of the major axis of the elliptical cam shaft 17, such rotation forces the lug arms 22 apart from one another to thereby enlarge the diameter of the cam shaft socket 24 to accommodate the cam shaft. This condition is shown in FIGURE 7 in which the spread of the lug arms 22 is clearly observed.

This is an unstable mechanical condition in which the lug arms 22 are subjected to an outward biasing force which sets up a stress about the periphery of the cam shaft socket 24.

Continued rotation of the disc 18 slightly downward past the position where the major axis of the elliptical cam shaft 17 is in a balanced force condition acting in line with the cam shaft major axis moves the disc into a mechanically unstable position wherein the forces exerted create a rotational moment of sufiicient strength to force the disc downward between the circular outer covers 14' of the signalling unit 13 to thereby conceal the signal flag 18 from view as illustrated in the showing of FIGURE 8 by arrow 27. The same effect could of course be produced by forming the cam shaft socket 24 to be of elliptical shape and oriented so that the major axes of the cam shaft 17 and socket 24 coincide when the signal flag 18 is in its fully up or fully down position corresponding respectively to the showings of FIGURES 6 and 8. In such case of course the arm 22 would be subjected to a greater lateral spreading force when the flag was rotated into the position shown in FIGURE 7 since the major axis of the cam shaft 17 would then coincide with the minor axis of the socket 24.

It will be observed from the showing of FIGURE 1 that the signal flag disc bodies 29 are the same size and shape as the circular outer covers 14 so that both of the flags 1% and 19 are completely concealed when in their down position. The lug arms 22 are observed to project upwardly beyond the top of the upper projecting cars 16 of the outer covers 5.4, this being necessary so that either of the flags may be readily flipped into its visible position by exerting a rotational force upon the end of the arms 22 with the fingertip. The signal unit covers 14 and signal flags 18 and 19 may be of any desired shape so long as the shapes chosen permit the signal flaps to be moved into visible and concealed position in the manner previously described. Moreover, while a drink stirring device showing two signal flags has been illustrated, it will be appreciated that one or more than two of such flags could just as well be incorporated into the structure.

The drink stirring device can be economically made of many of the presently known plastic substances with the flags being individually molded and with the stirrer and signalling unit being formed as a unitary integral structure. When formed in this manner, the individual flags are readily attachable to and detachable from the cam shaft 17 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6 in connection with the dotted outline of the lug 21 and the arrow 25. To assemble the flag to the cam shaft it is only necessary to press the lug 21 downward onto the cam shaft so that the latter enters the slot 23 between the arms 22, cams the arms apart and snaps into the cam shaft socket 24. The signal flag being thus independent of the stirring device itself can be made with any desired legending whatsoever imprinted thereon, and flags appropriate to specific occasions may be chosen and snapped into position on the cam shaft 17 Having now described my invention in connection with a particularly illustrated embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications of the same may now occur from time to time to those persons normally skilled in the art without departing from the essential scope or spirit of my invention, and accordingly it is intended to claim the same broadly as well as specifically .as indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A movable signal drink stirring device, comprising in combination, a drink stirrer having an elongated stem portion surmounted by a signalling unit, said signalling unit including a pair of congruent spaced apart parallel cover members secured at their lower ends to the upper end of said stirrer stem portion, a non-circular cam shaft bridging between and secured in said cover members proximate their upper ends, at least one movable signal flag disposed and concealed between said cover members and having a lug extending radially outward from the body of the said flag, said lug being slotted radially inward from the outer end thereof to form a pair of arms with the slot terminating at its inner end in an enlarged socket in said lug, said signal flag being secured between said cover members by means of said lug by disposition of said cam shaft within said lug socket, and means extending from said flag radially outward of said cover members for pivoting said flag about said cam shaft to swing said flag out from between said cover members into a visible position, the contour of said cam shaft and of said lug socket being such that said flag is held stabilized in either of its concealed or visible positions by mechanical engagement between said cam shaft and the lug socket walls and is not stabilized in positions therebetween.

2. A movable signal drink stirring device, comprising in combination, a drink stirrer having an elongated stem portion surmounted by a signalling unit, said signalling unit including a pair of congruent spaced apart parallel cover members secured at their lower ends to the upper end of said stirrer stern portion, a non-circular cam shaft bridging between and secured to said cover members proximate their upper ends, at least one movable signal flag disposed and concealed between said cover members and having a lug extending radially outward from the body of said flag, said lug being slotted radially inward from the outer end thereof to form a pair of arms with the slot terminating at its inner end in an enlarged socket in said lug, said signal flag being secured between said cover members by means of said lug by disposition of said cam shaft Within said lug socket, said lug arms extending from said flag radially outward of said cover members for pivoting said flag about said cam shaft to swing said flag out from between said cover members into a visible position, the contour of said cam shaft and of said lug socket being such that said flag is held stabilized in either of its con cealed or visible positions by mechanical engagement between said cam shaft and the lug socket walls and is not stabilized in positions therebetween.

3. A movable signal drink stirring device, comprising in combination, a drink stirrer having an elongated stem portion surmounted by a signalling unit, said signalling unit including a pair of congruent spaced apart parallel cover members secured at their lower ends to the upper end of said stirrer stem portion, an elliptical cross-section cam shaft bridging between and secured to said cover members proximate their upper ends with the major axis thereof extending substantially radially of said cover members, at least one movable signal flag disposed and concealed between said cover members and having a lug extending radially outward from the body of the said flag, said lug being slotted radially inward from the outer end thereof to form a pair of arms with the slot termmating at its inner end in an enlarged socket in said lug, said signal flag being secured between said cover members by means of said lug by disposition of said cam shaft within said lug socket, said lug arms extending from said flag radially outward of said cover members for pivoting said flag about said cam shaft to swing said flag out from between said cover members into a visible position, the contour of said lug socket being such that said flag is held stabilized in either of its concealed or visible positions by mechanical engagement between said cam shaft and the lug socket walls and is not stabilized in positions t'herebetween.

4. A movable signal drink stirring device, comprising in combination, a drink stirrer having an elongated stem portion surmounted by a signalling unit, said signalling unit including a pair of congruent spaced apart cover members having parallel planar faces presenting toward one another, said cover members being secured at their lower ends to the upper end of said stirrer stem portion, an elliptical cross-section cam shaft bridging between and secured to said cover members proximate their upper ends with the major axis thereof extending substantially radially of said cover members, a plurality of parallel aligned movable signal flags disposed and concealed between said cover members and each having a lug extending radially outward from the body of its flag, said lugs being each slotted radially inward from the outer end thereof to form a pair of arms with the slot terminating at its inner end in an enlarged socket in said lug and with said cam shaft disposed Within the socket of each of said lugs to thereby secure said flags to said cam shaft, said lug arms extending radially outward beyond said cover members to provide a means for pivoting each of said flags about said earn shaft to swing said flag out from between said cover members into visible position, the contour of said lug sockets being such that each flag is held stabilized in either of its concealed or visible positions by mechanical engagement between said earn shaft and flag lug socket Walls and is not stabilized in positions therebetween.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 475,937 Ethridge May 31, 1892 2,723,111 Lawrence Nov. 8, 1955 2,793,842 Bacon May 28, 1957 

1. A MOVABLE SIGNAL DRINK STIRRING DEVICE, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A DRINK STIRRER HAVING AN ELONGATED STEM PORTION SURMOUNTED BY A SIGNALLING UNIT, SAID SIGNALLING UNIT INCLUDING A PAIR OF CONGRUENT SPACED APART PARALLEL COVER MEMBERS SECURED AT THEIR LOWER ENDS TO THE UPPER END OF SAID STIRRER STEM PORTION, A NON-CIRCULAR CAM SHAFT BRIDGING BETWEEN AND SECURED TO SAID COVER MEMBERS PROXIMATE THEIR UPPER ENDS, AT LEAST ONE MOVABLE SIGNAL FLAG DISPOSED AND CONCEALED BETWEEN SAID COVER MEMBERS AND HAVING A LUG EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARD FROM THE BODY OF THE SAID FLAG, SAID LUG BEING SLOTTED RADIALLY INWARD FROM THE OUTER END THEREOF TO FORM A PAIR OF ARMS WITH THE SLOT TERMINATING AT ITS INNER END IN AN ENLARGED SOCKET IN SAID LUG, SAID SIGNAL FLAG BEING SECURED BETWEEN SAID COVER MEMBERS BY MEANS OF SAID LUG BY DISPOSITION OF SAID CAM SHAFT WITHIN SAID LUG SOCKET, AND MEANS EXTENDING FROM SAID FLAG RADIALLY OUTWARD OF SAID COVER MEMBERS FOR PIVOTING SAID FLAG ABOUT SAID CAM SHAFT TO SWING SAID FLAG OUT FROM BETWEEN SAID COVER MEMBERS INTO A VISIBLE POSITION, THE CONTOUR OF SAID CAM SHAFT AND OF SAID LUG SOCKET BEING SUCH THAT SAID FLAG IS HELD STABILIZED IN EITHER OF ITS CONCEALED OR VISIBLE POSITIONS BY MECHANICAL ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN SAID CAM SHAFT AND THE LUG SOCKET WALLS AND IS NOT STABILIZED IN POSITIONS THEREBETWEEN. 